Can-cap-tipping machine.



Patented Feb. 8, 1910.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I HI /6 noewkop f l/vibwomu v r stares ri rnivr orator.

CHARLES E. AYARS, OF SALEM, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR' '10 AYARS MACHINE COM- PANY, OF SALEM, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-CAP- TIPPING- MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 8, 1906.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910. Serial No. 300,151

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnaumas H. Areas, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, ih the county of Salem and State of .NSW Jersefihave invented. eertam new and operation of soldering the cap to the can.'

This tipping operation is the final step in hermetically sealing cans, because aftert-he cap itself has been soldered sufiicient time must be allowed, after the can leaves the heated soldering iron of the capper, tor

the soldered cap to cool before the tipping can be properly accomplished.

In the art of packing materials in cans by the use of machinery it is desirable that the handling of the cans be reduced to a minimum, and for this reason the mechanism -which etl'ectsthe tipping is preferably so located With respect to or connected with the capping machine that the cans after be ing' capped will be mechanicallyconveyed to the tipper.

One object. of the present invention is to pre ide soldering mechanism having a tipping iron which will have position adjacent to the path along which the capped cans travel and to cause'the tipping iron to move through a complete vertical circuit so as to tip a can during the movementof said iron through a part of its circuit, and to continue the circuit so as to meet the next approaching can.

Another object. at the invention is to provide a construction of tipper that shall be sin'iple, entirely automatic in its o ierations so ,asto cll'ect theproper registration of the solderingiron with the vent-hole 'ot the cap,

and which will feed the solder or not feed it according to the presence or absence oi a can on the can-seat of the conveyer.

The invention is illustrated in these-- companying drawings in Which,

Figure l'shows a side elevation of the machine. l ig. a plan view of the same. big. an end elevation of the same, and Fig] is a side elevationshowing a detail of the tipping iron devices,

to a suitable portion of the frame structure," 15 a vertically extending standard, 2, havmg a bearing, 3, at its upper end, through which a horizontal shaft, 4, extends. The end of this shaft carries a crank, 5, having a laterally-projecting pin, 6.

Two laterally-curved bracket-arms, 7, and, 8, project from the standard at opposite arms extend over and in a vertical plane above the conveyor. The extreme end, 9, -of -the arm, 7, 'turns upwardly and is provided with a vertical slot, 10, While the end, 11, of the arm, 8, also projects vertically and forms a slotted guide.

A bar, 12, has one end projecting through the guide, 11, and its other end drops loosely in the slot of the arm, 9. Between its ends this bar is provided with a downwardlyprojecting arm, 13, having a vertical slot into which the pin, 6, of the crank projects. lVlien the bar, 12, is in the horizontal position as seen in Fig. 1., the crank-pin, (5, has position at the upper end of the slot and it is obvious that if the crank is turned in the direction of the dart in Fig. 1, the bar will be'mado to slide horizontally through the "ends, 9, and, 11, of the bucket arms. It is this movement of the bar that l utilize to travel with the cans during the tipping 0poration. I

A bracket, 14, is secured to the side of the bar and projects outwardly over the center of the conveyor and the outer end of this bracket. is provided "with a perforation through which a vertical. rod, 15, extends and is adjustably secured bya set screw, 16. The lower pendent end of this rod carries a tipping iron, 17, having a point-end, 18, which registers with the center line of the con'veyer which is below it.

A horizontal plate, 19, extends laterally from above the iron and said. plate is provided with a plurality of diverging slots,

sides of'thc bearing, 3, and the ends of these i 20. Pins, 21, are adjustably secured in the jgage the circumferential edge of the canheads, 23, on the conveyor. By this means the cans on the conveyor will become-cen- "tered so thatthe point-end, 18, of the tipping iron will register with the vent-hole, 24, in the can-cap.

A flexible tube, 25, is connected with the burner tube, 26, of the tipping iron and serves to-supply the latter with fuel by which the iron is heated.

From the foregoing description it is to be understood that the can conveyer and the crank-shaft are to have a like movement,- that is, it' the conveyer moves continuously the crank-shaft will also revolve continuously and it' an intermittent movement is employed in the conveyor a like movement will beimparted to the crankshaft.

, If in the operation of the machine a'continuously moving conveyer is: employed to carry the cans withoutintcrruption the crank shaft will. also move continuously and the bar, 12, will be made to travel through a complete circuit and will not make a mere reciprocating niovement, because it returns to meet a can through a ditl'erent path f1 om that through which it travels with the can.

1n one complete revolution of the crankshaft the bar will travel through substantially an elliptical circuitas can be read in Figs. 1 and l of the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the iron in register with the can and ready to make its forward travel therewith while the solder is applied to the vent hole, 24, of the can-cap. While this movement of the iron and can'is taking place other devices are brought into operation to effect the feeding of the solder. These solder-feed devices will now be described.

Secured to the side frame of the machine and projecting horizontally therefrom are two brackets, 28, which sustain vertical posts, 29, at. their outer ends. A stationary horizontal plate, 30, is supported at the up per ends of the posts, 29, and a second horizontal plate, 31, is sustained by suitable An adsurface of this osts, 32, above the lower plate, 30.- ustable-plate, 33, rests on the top of the plate, 30, and the inner end plate is provided with a bearing, 34, in

which a grooved roller, 35, is mounted so as to revolve in'a horizontal plane. The horizontal adjustment of this plate is eil'ected by means of'an adjusting screw, 36, atone end and the plate is secured in the adjusted position by means of a locking bolt, 37, which passes through the lower plate, 30.

A ratchet Wheel, 38, is also mounted hori- Zontally on a shaft. 35), which has bearing in the two plates, 30, and, 31, and said ratchet Wheel revolves in the'same horizontal plane serves as a pawl to engage the teeth on the wheel to give the latter a partial turn when 'the bar is reciprocated.

The bar, ell, projects slightly over the tlat surface of the ratchet-wheel and is sustained thereby and the pin, 4=2, projects from the bottom of the bar to engage the teeth of the wheel. A spring, 43, serves to keep the pin, 4:2, against the ratchet-wheel and also to maintain a longitudinal pull on the bar in direction reversed to that in which the ratchet wheel turns, so that the mo vemcnt ot' thebar in one direction will turn the wheel, while the spring will return the bar so the pin can take a fresh bite on the wheel. 1 vertical rock-shaft, l4, hangs pcndcntly from the upper plate, 31. and the lower end of said shaft is held steady by a'bracket,

arm projects laterally with its end in the path of projections or other devices on the eonveyer so that as the conveyor moves forward the arm will likewise be swung forward and thegreciprocating bar will be moved in a reverse direction and against the action of the spring, 43, which latter will return the parts to their normal positions.

It will be noted that in the present construction the solder feed devices are operated by the intermittent contact of the arm, 47, with the successive can-seatson the conveyer, but it is to be understood that theoperation of this arm may be effected by 'n'operly-spaced projections on the conveyor instead of by can-seats.

It will also be seen that in the present construction the leClplOCtlllOIl of the bar, 41, takes place whether there are cans on the seats or not, and while this is not essential to the invention, because the arm could be positioned on the rock-shaft so as to be operated by contact with the can-body, I prefer to have a positive operation such as has been described.

As it, is desirable to avoid feeding solder during the absence of a can 1 have'provided devices to effect this result as will-now be described.

A'vertical shaft, *8, passes through the plates, 30, and, 31-, in which it has bearing,

and beneath the plate, 30, this shaft carries an arm, 49, whose end, 50, extends out over the conveyer and in the path of the cans traveling therewith. The upper. end of the shaft, 48, carries a collar, 51, from which two arms, 52, and, 53, project. A spring,

54, has one end connected tothe arm, 52,

and its other end secured to a stationary part of the machine so as to exert a constant rotary pull on said shaft to keep the free end, 50, of the arm, 49, projected over the conveyer. The arm, 53, also projects I from the collar on the shaft, 48, and by contact with the ratchet-wheel bearing on top of the plate, 31, will limit the rotation of the said shaft and the outward swing of the arm, 49, over the conveyer.-

The shaft carries a trap arm, 55, at 1ts upper end and this arm has position on. the

shaft so as to project from between the plates, 30, and, 31, and in the same plane with the reciprocating bar, 41. When the arm, 49,- swings outwardly over the con-. veyer because of the absence of a can the shaft, 48, will turn and throw the outer end of the triparin, 55, against the reciprocating bar, ll, and thus .cause the free-end of .pawl, 56, serves to keep the ratchet wheel from moving backward while the bar, 41,

is reciprocating. A stop, 57, is mounted on the bracket, 28, and limits the movement of the rock-arm, 46. a

I Having thus described my invention what I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, 1. A can-cap soldering machine having a conveyer to move .the filled cans on their ends with their cap-ends uppermost, a soldering iron support extending in the same direction as and reciprocable lengthwise over the conveyer, a soldering iron sustained between the two ends of the'support and de pending therefrom, means for moving. the support. lengthwise .with the conveyer to seat the iron on the upright can, means for raising the iron from the can, means for reversmg the lengthwise movement of the support, and means for lowering the iron.

2." A can-cap soldering machine having a conveyor to move the cans in a straight line and at uniform distances apart, a soldering iron maintained in a endent position over the center of the line of cans, means for moving the iron in one horizontal plane while operating on the can-cap, means for raising the iron at the end of the soldering period,

means for reversing the direction of movement of the iron and means for lowering the iron onto another can at the end of the re verse movement.

3. A can-cap soldering machine having means to move the cans on their ends; an

iron support; an iron carried vertically by and depending from the support; a centering device having a fixed relation .with respect to the iron and moving with the latter for centering the cap-end of the can with respect to the iron, and means for moving the vertical iron and centering device inone di rection to' meet a can and then in a reverse direction while in contact with the can.

4:. A can-cap soldering machine having a device to support and move the cans on their ends, a depending soldering iron above the cap-end of the cans; iron-carrying means movable in a complete circuit while maintaining the iron vertically above the cap-ends of the cans, and means depending in front of the iron for engaging a can and centering the latter with respect to the iron.

-'5. A can-cap soldering machine having means to convey the cans with their capends uppermost; an iron-support; a stem depending fromv said support and carrying an iron at its lower end; means depending from above the can for engaging the rim edge thereof to center the cap with respect to the iron, and means for moving the su'pport and iron in one direction to meet a can and then reverse their movement and cause them to travel with the can while the iron is operating on the cap of the centered can.

6. A can-cap soldering machine having a continuously moving conveyer to move the cans on their ends, a soldering iron maintained in a centered position over the conveyer; means for moving the iron continuously back andlforth over the conveyei independently of the cans and irrespective of the presence of a can, means for lowering the iron onto a can to solder the cap of the latter and means for raising the iron from the soldered cap.

7. A can-cap soldering machine having a continuously moving-conveyer to move the cans while on their ends, a soldering iron maintained in a definite vertical plane over the conveyer; a can centering device carried with and projecting downwardly at the side of the iron; means independent of the cans for moving the iron and centering device continuously,-said means giving the iron and centering device a movement in a horizontal plane while in. contact with the can and then raising and reversing the movement of the iron and centering device to enable themto meet another can.

8. A can-cap soldering machine having a can conveyer to sustain the filled cans on their ends; a support extending lengthwise of the conveyer; a soldering iron dependp in &

ing from and between the ends of the length wise support and centered over the ends of the cans and means 'for lowering the iron onto the end of a can and moving it with the can. 7

9. A can-cap soldering machine having a can conveyer to sustain and move the filled cans on their ends; a support extending lengthwise of the conveyer; a soldering iron depending from and between the opposolder, and means operative during the ab-. sence of a can to prevent the feeding or solder.

11. A can-cap tipping machine having a movable carrier, a'loar above the carrier and havinga slot; a tipping iron carried by the bar; a crank havinga pin which projects into the slot of said bar to move the latter through a'complete circuit when the crank is turned, and a solder-feed device.

12. A can-cap tipping machine having a device to sustain the cans; a bracket having slotted ends; a bar movable through the slots in said bracket ends; a crank revolving in engagement with the bar; a tipping iron carried by said bar, anda solder-feed de-' vice.

13. A can-cap tipping machine having a conveying device to move the cans; a tipping iron; means for moving the iron with one can and then returning it to meet the next can; a solder-feed device operatedby the conveyor, and a device held inoperative by the cans to permit the solder-feed device to operate.

14. A can-cap tipping machine having a device to move the cans; a tipping iron; means independent of the can-moving device for moving the iron with the cans; a solder-feed wheel; a continuously reciprocating solder-teed bar, and means operated by the cans to enable the rcci 'nocating bar to engage the feed-wheel.

15. A can-cap tipping machine having a conveying device to move the cans; a tipping iron; means for moving the. iron continuously in a direction parallel with the conveying devices; a solder-feed wheel; a

l'eciprocating solder feed bar; means operated by the conveyor for reciprocating the bar continuously, and means operated during the absence of a'can to prevent the reciprocating feed-bar from operating the feed-wheel. i 16. A can-cap tipping machine havinga movable can-carrier; a tipping iron sustained above the carrier; a plurality. of centering pins in advance of the men; means for movlng the iron and pins with the cans,

and a solder feed device.

17. A can-cap tipping machine having a ,75

movable can-carrier, a tipping iron sustained above the carrier; a plate projecting in advance of the iron; a plurality of pins sustained by said plate; means forcausmg the plate, pins and iron to travel with the can and a solder feed device. I

18. In a can-cap soldering machine the combination with a conv'eyer having a plurality ofdisks attached thereto at regular intervals apart and each disk being horizo1rtally. disposed to receive andconvey a filled can with its cap-end uppermost, of a solderingiron maintained in a pendent position in av'ertical plane over the centers of the moving disks and means for moving the iron in one direction while centered over a disk and then returning it to meet another disk.

19. In a can-cap soldering machine the combination with a plurality of horizontal disks at regular intervals apart andadapted to carry filled cans with their pap-ends uppermost, of means for moving the disks forward; a soldering iron pendently susing period and reversing its movement to enable it to meet and center over another disk and can thereon.

20. In a can-cap soldering machine the combination with a series of horizontal can disks movable at regular intervals apart and adapted to cary filled cans with their cap ends uppermost, of soldering-iron supppirt extending lengthwise with respect to direction of travel of the disks; a solder mg iron depending from the support bet eeri the ends of the latter and maintained n vertical plane over the centers of. ti e roving disks. and means for movingthc iron-supportv lengthwise back and forth/ above the disks to cause the iron to center over and 'travel with one disk and then return to meet another disk. 7

21. In a can-cap soldering machine the combination with a conveyor to move the buns with their cap -ends uppermost, 'ot' a 1 soldering iron depending over the conveyor: mtlans for moving the W011 back and forth 0\3.1 the convever: a solder feed wlieel'to engage and teed the solder toward the iron;

areciprocating feed bar to engage and turn 1 and lowering the iron 10o fthe wheel, end means 'operated by the cans to move the bar 'f eed wheel;

" toengagement with the 22.;In e can-Gap soldering .niechine the eombinetiqnfl with' a conveyer to' move the cans with their cap-ends uppermost; of a soldering iron depending overthe conveyer;

means for moving the Iron back and forth over the;eonve er; a'solder 'feed wheel to" engage and fee the solder toward'the iron a reciprocating-f feed-bar to engage and turn the wheel; means'for reciprocating the feed her continuously; and means movable o'ver the conveyer durin the absenee o'f a can to throw the feed" at out/of engagement I with-the feed wheel to permit it to recipro- .cate without feeding-the solder;

23.- In a can-capold'ering machine the combination with a -p1ural1ty of spaced apart can sunporting disks moveble continu ously in a horizontal plane,- of-a spldermg iron above the disk; means for movm the iron'baekend forth over the disks; a solder feed wheel to engage and feed the .s'oltier' into the path of the iron;- a reciprocating feed her to. engage the .feed' wheel; means or intermittently reciprocating the feed bar and means, movable over the said disks during the absence of a can to throw the rojecting into the path of the moving disks bar out of engagement with the feed wheel- 

